LSTN UP on Bullz-Eye!
Posted by Tom Orlando (06/15/2013 @ 11:56 am)

At a time when headphones are all the rage, one has to cut through the clutter to find the best products on the market. You may not have heard of LSTN Headphones, and neither did we, but after testing their Bowerys earphones, you’ll realize what you have been missing with your current devices.
Oh, and their products are made of wood! Why are guitars, violins, drums and pianos made out of wood, but headphones aren’t? LSTN’s unique wooden chambers are a huge contributor to the warm and natural sound of LSTN headphones. LSTN is also environmentally friendly, so they aren’t out chopping down trees to create products. The reclaimed wood they use is sourced from furniture and flooring companies. Specifically, it’s the small, otherwise discarded scraps that are left over from their manufacturing process. The sound coming out of the earphones we tested is incredible, and we are guessing it has something to do with their wood casing. LSTN products also look great and scream quality. You can check out these fresh products at www.lstnheadphones.com and they start at $50.
First Drive: 2014 Lexus IS
Posted by Bullz-Eye Staff (06/10/2013 @ 2:37 pm)
We love the opportunity to test drive brand new car models, and we like it even more when the test involves a day at the track. So naturally we were happy to join Lexus at Rockingham Speedway in North Carolina (“The Rock”) to test drive the all-new 2014 Lexus IS. We tested the IS 250 and IS 350, along with the F Sport version of the IS 350.
There’s nothing like accelerating from a banked turn, flooring it once you hit the straightaway, and then slamming on the brakes just as you approach 100 MPH as you prepare to make a 90 degree turn. You definitely get the feeling of what a car can handle on a track like this, and each model of the IS was a blast to drive.
Exterior
Lexus is emphasizing its new “obsession with design” and we can see the results as the company has rolled out its aggressive spindle grille across its model lineup. The new front end gives Lexus a new, bold look that sets the tone for all of the design elements. I always liked the look of Lexus cars, but now I love them.
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Posted in: Car Reviews, Cars
Tags: 2014 Lexus IS, auto photos, auto slideshow, auto tech, auto tech features, automobile gadgets, automobile photo gallery, autos, autos for guys, autos for men, car gadgets, car info for men, car photo gallery, car photos, car reviews, car slideshow, car tech, car tech features, classic golf courses, connected autos, connected cars, first drive, first drive automobile reviews, first drive car reviews, first drive reviews for guys, first drive reviews for men, iconic golf courses, Lexus, Lexus IS, new automobiles, new autos, new cars, North Carolina, Pinehurst, Pinehurst Golf Resort, race track, Raleigh Durham, Rockingham Speedway, The Rock speedway, track test
Car Review: 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport AWD 2.0T
Posted by Tom Orlando (05/28/2013 @ 10:00 pm)

To say that the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport AWD is a sharp CUV would be an understatement. This new offering from Hyundai is certainly a sweet success built for today’s family, with flexible seating and cargo, strong performance courtesy of dramatic weight savings (266 lbs. lighter than the 2012 model) and advanced safety technologies. The Santa Fe showcases the brand’s cutting-edge capabilities through its bold design, impressive fuel economy and a host of features to delight drivers and passengers with high expectations for functionality and comfort.
EXTERIOR
Hyundai’s all-new crossover architecture was clearly developed for families that seek size, flexibility and functionality. The Fluidic Sculpture exterior design – a dynamic and fluid design with bold surfaces and balanced lines – plays a huge role in setting the Santa Fe apart from the competition. Our Cabo bronze test vehicle couldn’t have looked better with flashy 19-inch hyper silver alloy wheels. The Fluidic Sculpture exterior of the Santa Fe crossover family invokes the impression of irrepressible motion through a new design concept called Storm Edge, which captures the strong and dynamic images created by nature during the formation of a storm. To create the illusion of constant motion, Hyundai designers use a three-bar hexagonal front grille, LED headlight accents, low stance, rising beltline, roof spoiler and wraparound taillights. These cues let people know immediately that the Santa Fe is a Hyundai.
Design elements also include standard chrome grille and door handle accents and body color mirrors. In addition to the 19-inch wheels, a twin-tip chrome exhaust is also standard on the Santa Fe Sport 2.0T. It also boasts other features like front fog lights, heated side mirrors, roof side rails, automatic headlight control, side mirror-mounted turn signal indicators and premium door sill plates.
INTERIOR
Hyundai hit it out of the park with the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport AWD interior! The sleek design of the Santa Fe, combined with Hyundai’s expertise in interior packaging, delivers a great presence on the road while improving functionality and convenience. The spacious cabin has more shoulder room than the previous generation. The Santa Fe includes a number of convenient standard stowage and storage features, including an overhead console sunglass holder, two front and two rear seat cupholders, door bottle holders, cooled glovebox, enlarged central storage console, front storage bin, front seat back pockets and an innovative cargo under-tray and floor board storage. The Santa Fe Sport also features sliding and reclining second row seats.
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2013 Tour of California: The Specter of Doping Sidelined by American Victory – An Exclusive Interview with Ted King
Posted by Tom Edwards (05/24/2013 @ 12:41 pm)

It’s no secret that American cycling has suffered like a dog under the relentless allegations brought to light by the US Anti-Doping Agency, an organization hell bent on seeking due punishment for cyclists who used performance enhancing drugs to better their careers. Spurred by thorough investigatory tactics and irrefutable evidence, countless US cyclists confessed to using PEDs throughout a whole slew of events, from the Tour de France to the Olympics, all typically in the years prior to 2007. The coup de grace came when once-hero Lance Armstrong, whose seemingly untouchable seven Tour de France titles were a symbol of inspiration to millions of Americans, finally threw in the towel and confirmed what countless skeptics had ranted on for over a decade.
As the dust settled, many brilliant careers were cut short or put on suspension, forever casting them as bad men amidst an even worse culture. Regardless of the validity surrounding these judgments, the sport has continued to pedal on, yet where does this leave American cycling, both for the fan and the rider?
America’s Greatest Race. This title, aptly given to the Amgen Tour of California, describes in three words one of the nation’s most prestigious and successful sporting events, with roughly 750 miles of beautiful terrain. The route, which started in Escondido and finished in Santa Rosa, acted as stadium last week as 16 professional teams from around the globe squeezed every last drop of energy into eight days of battle between man, bike and road.
The Amgen ToC has solidified its reputation as the nation’s most triumphant bike race, offering a hearty platform for domestic athletes to showcase their talents to a large audience. Despite the fallout from Lance and his syringe-prone US Postal teammates, this year’s edition saw American riders shake off the naysayers and cynics, eventually leading to a first place overall victory by 24-year-old Washington native Tejay van Garderen, as well as a stage win by Tyler Farrar of Garmin-Sharp.
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Car Review: 2013 Hyundai Sonata Limited
Posted by Tom Orlando (05/22/2013 @ 1:07 am)

When Hyundai released the latest Sonata a few years ago, the design was cutting edge, and now that the current design is running close to the end of its cycle, the design still holds true to this day. For 2013, Sonata built on its trailblazing recipe of high-design and high fuel efficiency with more features, higher value and better residual value than ever before. That’s important, as the midsize segment is more competitive than ever, with new competitors borrowing pages from the Sonata playbook with improved fuel economy and design.
EXTERIOR
First and foremost, you can’t help but notice the panoramic sunroof which is now part of the Limited Premium Package for 2013 as tested. Fluidic Sculpture is a consistent, cohesive design language that is used throughout the entire Hyundai showroom. It considers the interplay of natural, fluid elements with more rigid surfaces and structures to create the illusion of constant motion.
The exterior of the Sonata is long, light and low. The high beltline allows for a long, sleek roofline accented by a third window. A monoform side profile includes flowing lines highlighted by a Hyundai signature chrome accent that spans the length of the car. Normally, this type of trim is only found around the windows. On the Sonata, this trim extends out from the headlamps, juts up along the hood and through the beltline. The face is bold with a large powerful chrome grille and headlamps that integrate precise details. The stance is completed by 17-inch alloy wheels on our Limited edition. It’s amazing how the Sonata design has influenced competitors and reshaped the midsize sedan marketplace.
INTERIOR
The sleek design, combined with Hyundai’s expertise in interior packaging, delivers class-leading interior comfort, functionality and practicality. A sleek roofline typically compromises headroom and interior volume, but at 120.2 cubic feet, the Sonata has more interior volume than many of its key competitors. It is so spacious that Sonata continues to be classified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a large car, truly a “class above” other categorized midsize cars. The Sonata shines even in trunk volume, with 16.4 cu. ft. of trunk space that gives it a 6.1 percent advantage over direct rivals. Our test model was upscale and loaded with features, including leather seating surfaces with heated front and rear seats, power driver seat with power lumbar support, leather wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, XM Satellite radio, Dimension AM/FM/CD-MP3 with iPod/USB input, HD Radio technology with multicasting, integrated Bluetooth hands free phone system, navigation with high resolution touchscreen display, rear backup camera, and a booming and crystal clear Infinity premium audio system with subwoofer and amplifier.
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